Travel insurance companies brace for avalanche of claims

Hurricane Irma is likely to spur a record number of travel
insurance claims, said InsureMyTrip.

"Any traveler filing a claim during this time will
likely experience a significant delay getting it processed," said Gail
Mangiante, a claims expert at InsureMyTrip.

Insurers are dealing with claims from Irma on top of claims
filed after Hurricane Harvey last month.

As of Monday, the day after the hurricane made landfall in
the Florida Keys, Allianz reported it already received over 3,200 Irma-related
claims and 1,200 calls to its customer service center.

In comparison, the insurer had received 2,400 claims related
to Hurricane Harvey as of Monday, which made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25.

Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global
Assistance USA, said Irma prompted thousands of customers to cancel trips to
Florida. The insurer has set up a page on its website with information about
the storm, filing a claim and emergency travel assistance.

Travel insurance comparison website Squaremouth said that Hurricane
Harvey caused more trip cancellations than any other event this year, but that
Irma was expected to top Harvey.